Hebrews 3:1,6 (Jesus Greater Than Moses)Observation
1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest... 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
Hebrews 3:12-15 (Warning against Unbelief)
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 (A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God)
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (Jesus the Great High Priest)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[i] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The author of Hebrews urges us to stay focused on Jesus and acknowledge his divinity and reign over our lives. We are reminded of his faithfulness and his presence in our lives, as we are his house and he lives in us. And if God lives in us, we must throw away the confidence in the flesh and hold firm to the promises that God gives us. The author then gives a stern reminder that we are to remember God's power and open up our hearts so we do not fall in unbelief. For those who have a sinful and unbelieving heart may never enter the promised land, we are encouraged to have a sharp eye for the danger of being hardened by sin. The scripture tells us that sin can harden our hearts and unable us to experience and see the glory of God. Hebrews 4 presents some continuity to the previous chapter. The author reminds us that there is rest for those who believe. There is indication that this "rest" may be either spiritual or physical. If looked at as a physical rest, it is to take a day off in remembrance of God. If looked at as a spiritual rest, it is to lay aside our lives and enter God's arms in joy and grace, for when we are experiencing his power, we find true freedom from sin. These verses are also a reminder that God's word, i.e. the scripture, are alive and clearly stated. And as the scripture say, "it nudges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" so it must stir change within us as evidence of God's influence in our lives. Finally, the author gives a last final encouragement for us to "hold firmly to the faith we profess". Do not be discouraged, but find confidence in God, whom we put trust.
Application
I find these verses actually very encouraging this week. I try to see the text in context, and the people Moses lead to the promise land wondered in the desert for 40 years! I can certainly relate to their sense of wandering, always looking forward to the finish line, but never quite reaching it. I suppose as person who has been in school for so long, and seeing others succeed in the work force, I feel a bit anxious. It is like walking in a desert, never seeing the end of the road. But the passage reminds me to stay focused on Jesus, because he has already redeemed me. We have already crossed the finish line the moment we accepted the sacrifice of Jesus who died for us. Even as I walk in uncertainty, working and hoping for a brighter future, God reminds me through Hebrews to throw away the confidence in the flesh and hold firmly to Jesus, with a tender heart, and find rest in Him who gives us strength. We are to have courage and press on forward. So in my life, I need to set my eyes on him and his grace and promises, not on the finish line.
Prayer
I pray that although I may be running in place, like the Israelites wandering in the desert, I must not lose faith in his promises. I pray that I may stay focused on the grace God has given me, and that I may press on forward, with confidence, fully trusting in him who gives me strength. Finally, I pray to find rest because God offers to take our burdens away from us.
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